Moby's Cave

[L Roebuck]

Thanks Jon! You started my New Years Eve morning off right! ;D

I think you made the right choice to not write math lesson plans and to go caving! You have definitely made great progress on the giant boulder in the passage!

Good Job - Happy New Year!

[Brian Roebuck]

Lookin good Jon! Your rock shaving techniques work extremely well for removing the constrictions you encounter. It is amazing what a hammer drill and some plug and feather work can accomplish in the hands of a determined caver. Keep the dig reports coming as we are all feeling the wind in our faces all the way in TAG!

Happy New Year to you and all the cave diggers in Colorado!

PS: y'all sip a "Fat Tire" for us!

[Sharon Faulkner]

Great trip report and photos Jon! Glad to see the exploration of Moby's is continuing even with all that snow you've been having.

Definitely better than writing lesson plans. ;D

[jonsdigs]

Moby's Bulletin!

I just came from Ryan G's where Mikey and Mud-Donna were. They all went in today and broke through into a new 20 by 30 room past the Sphincter in their southeast trending dig. No pictures yet but that adds at least 50 feet to the survey.

Congrats to the crew!

[itabot]

Save some digging for me Jon! I'll be back soon!

What's the latest?

[jonsdigs]

We'd love you to join us, Matt. We've been taking it slow what with the grim weather. When it snows, the cave closes to plow it's steep entrance road called Serpentine Drive. It also means we can't get the keys so I am home today writing this it having snowed last night.

The survey has been finished by our prestigious Lew Bicking awardee, Donald G. Davis (NSS number in the 5000's.) Our esteem and affection for him is shown by his voice being the most recognized and imitated in the NSS.

Donald wrote me

I've plotted the data Jason Blanscet and I surveyed yesterday in last week's extension. We added 100 feet (excluding a 17' shot to define the width of the new room). This makes the included length of Moby's Cave 488 feet (which also excludes a redundant shot in the entrance room, that connected the original entrance crawl). The new survey continues the main trend of the original cave, and makes its linear extent slightly longer (about 225 feet). The closest places in Moby's & Snider's plot 128 feet apart. However, Moby's plots 60 feet higher and isn't aiming downward toward Snider's; Moby's wouldn't connect unless it took a sharp turn down.

I'm just finishing off the last 3 feet of trimming to make the Nasty Velcro Crawl into a haulage way through which we can use one of our marvelous rope pulled carts the Air Force Academy Grotto built for us. When I finish we can continue digging to follow the air.

[jonsdigs]

So, Timebot, whudya think of Moby's today?

[Timebot]

Quick reply - FANTASTIC!

Trip report coming up...

[Timebot]

Ah well, MY trip report...

First driving up the winding winding road up to where we park - a first for me driving such a winding road upwards in the snow... I had thoughts of "well what if it snows two feet whiile we're in there?" But these were dismissed by the realization that there were two hefty guys in a truck ahead of me and I'm sure if I ran into trouble they would help out.

Next down to the tourist area to sign a waiver... After that we went back to cars/trucks, picked up stuff and ascended the mountain to where the cave was. Had NO idea I would be doing this in the snow, nor how steep it was. Fortunate to have had some hiking experience on Barr Trail in snow, it wasn't too bad -- but I did have to stop for breath more than a few times on the way up.

Once in, things started to look a little familiar since I've seen photos. Equipped with the knee pads, light helmet and extra lights, I was told to ascend down the ladder. It looks steeper than it really is, and I had no real problems with that... then down the tunnel and around until I reached the hall where the "sphincter is. Mike was showing me the various features - the hands were smaller than I had thought, but he said probably a zoom lens or close-up was used. I still found the whole thing fascinating. Shimmying through the sphincter - no problem whateva!

After the "tour" we went up into the "New Room" and I was shown around there as well. The tunnel just before the new room was the hardest thing - because I tried to get up into there on my belly - usually not a problem. But on going up and forward at the same time, one usually needs some kind of leverage -- which was difficult to find the first time. Watched the digging go on for a while. Later I needed to warm up again so helped with pitching rocks.

Went up to watch Jon make lunch and get a bit of sitting time. After lunch, the guys working on the new room went down there, and I watched Jon carve rock with the drill, the wedges and the chisel things. Was interesting and I remarked I could have used a skill like that earlier in my life. He got the desired piece of rock face to fracture and be able to be moved as I was watching and handing tools. A fairly large slice came off and I shimmyed that backwards toward the ladder. A few more pieces off and we tested the cart going through, which it did.

Setting the tools aside we crawled back to the New Room. (It really needs a name, guys. heh) A lot of progress (by my newbie standards) was made on the part they were exploring and a wall was being assembled. Quite a bit of flowstone was found and I got a good look at those pieces - really pretty in the blue lights. (Sorry guys - I'm female and very into "pretty" rocks. lol)

We were in there quite a while, and I helped a little with building the wall. I had to exit about ten minutes early, but don't think I missed anything. Getting up into the New room was not as hard that 2nd time, since I had help with a hand down.

All in all, it was really enjoyable first trip. Obviously I found it interesting since shimmying on my back down into the tunnel, I found myself stopping to "sightsee" the colors and sights in the rock above. And yes, I want to do more of this!

And the day closed well with a meeting of the Williams Canyon Bar Association. (And a hot shower at home! )

[L Roebuck]

Hey Timebot, your first caving trip report was a great read!! It reminded me of when I began caving. Ohh, Ahh those were the days! And the snippet about the meeting of the Williams Canyon Bar Association was ooooh so interesting. ;D

Of course now you must know we are all waiting for one of your poems.

[Sharon Faulkner]

Very well done Timebot! It is always good to read trip reports from new cavers who love the cave trip. Glad you enjoyed the trip.

[Timebot]

pretzlgirl said:

Of course now you must know we are all waiting for one of your poems.

Thanks... well, since you asked.... (Here's one for this trip...
----------------------------------------
Moby's Cavernous Course

I climbed into the bowels of the planet
Going down the ladder of hope
Where the tunnel of sidewalls began it.
And up and down an earthen slope.

I cast myself through the sphincter of earth
And shimmyed myself in the shadows of awe
Loved myself through a spirit's rebirth
There was no emotion to make me withdraw.

To see the hands holding right there underground
With the goose that lays nothing golden
Sitting far under surface was most profound
I found myself small, but much emboldened.

Then through a tunnel I crawled on my abdomen
Crawling my way on the elbows of dark
No hesitation to take as an omen
An on the flowstone to make a remark.

Fellowship found deep way underground
In caverns newly discovered
So that there within the dark I found
My soul was once again recovered.

That is the tale of my Moby's adventure
Eagerly sought and enjoyed to the max
In the company of several trenchers
Where I too, left my footfalls tracks.
--------------------------
(corrected - thanks Jon!)

[L Roebuck]

Bravo!

I am amazed that you could write such a wonderful caving poem in such a short time!

Thank you for posting it!! ;D